Improvement in clothes-frames



UNITED STATES PATENT CEEIGE,

JOSEPH H. OHADWIOK, OF WHEATON, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-FRAMES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. [60,160, dated February23, 1875; application led January 23, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J osEPH H. CHADwrcK. ofWheaton, in the county of Du Page and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain Improvements in Racks for Drying Clothes, of which the followingis a specification This invention consists of a flexible gratingsupported at the center by a diagonal hinged strut or brace from thewall, and capable of being lowered by a cord to receive the clothes, andraised into a horizontal position, as will be presently more fullyexplained.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification,Figure l represents a side View, and Fig. 2 is a plan view, of theinvention.

In the said drawing, A represents the horizontal grate, composed of thebars a, upon which the clothes are to be hung, pivoted to the transversecenter bar b and the stringer c. B is the diagonal strut or brace,hinged to the center bar at a point near the middle of the grate, andhinged to the wall D at about the height of the chair-board. A cord, E,is attached to the end of the center bar b, and, passing through apulleyT or eye, f, affords a means of hoisting' and sustaining the gratein a horizontal position at such a height in the room as to be above thestove and out of the way. A short arm, G, hinged to the wall a little toone side ot' the strut, and connected to said strut by means of a pin,serves to hold the whoie apparatus from swinging sidewise.

When the grate is to be filled with clothes, it may be lowered into theposition shown in dotted lines at Fig. 1, and when filled maybe hoistedup into the position shown in full lines in the same igure, and securedthus by fastening the cord.

The arm G is pierced with several holes, and the strut furnished withseveral of the pins g, so that the grate may be swung to one side or theother, and secured in that position. rIhis is convenient when it isdesired, for instance, to bring the clothes directly over a stove. Whenthus swung to one side or the other, the bars should be moved upon theirpivots, as shown in the dotted lines at Fig. 2, to accommodate the grateto its new position. This iexibility of the grate enables one to closeit up, and cause it to occupy a very small compass when it is to betaken down and stowed away.

The hinges for the lower end of the strut and arm may consist merely ofstaple and hook, as shown in the drawing, which will enable the wholeapparatus to be quickly and easily taken down from the wall to be stowedaway, leaving nothing except the staples to disti'gure the wall.

When the rack is in position the clothes hang free from each other, andin a warm upper stratum ot' air.

Having thus described myinvention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- The combination oi' the rack A, composed of bars a,center bar b, and Stringer c, the strut B, hinged to the rack and to thewall, the arm G, cord E, and pulley or eye f, substantially as specifiedand shown.

HEINRICH F. BRUNs, JOHN W. MUNDAY.

